Former Indian Super League (ISL) champions Bengaluru FC continued their impressive start to the 133rd Durand Cup, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over I-League side Inter Kashi FC in a Group B encounter at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata.
Spanish forward Edgar Mendez opened the scoring for Bengaluru in the 17th minute, converting a penalty after Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas brought down Sivasakthi Narayanan inside the box. The Blues dominated possession throughout the first half, creating several chances but failing to extend their lead.
After the break, Bengaluru continued to press for more goals. In the 77th minute, Alberto Noguera doubled their advantage with a well-taken finish from close range. Former India captain Sunil Chhetri, who came on as a late substitute, sealed the victory in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner from Roshan Naorem.
Despite Bengaluru’s dominance, Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas put in a commendable performance, making several saves to keep the scoreline respectable. However, he was unable to stop Ryan Williams’ penalty attempt in the 84th minute, which was saved by the crossbar.
With this win, Bengaluru FC moved to the top of the Group B standings with six points from two matches. Inter Kashi, on the other hand, remained winless after two games.
In another Group E encounter played at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Odisha FC registered a resounding 5-0 victory over BSF FT. Rahul Mukhi opened the scoring for Odisha in the 55th minute, followed by goals from Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh (56′), Moirangthem Givson Singh (58′, 80′), and Roshan Mukhi (78′).
Meanwhile, Hyderabad FC withdrew from the tournament due to unforeseen circumstances. The Durand Cup Organising Committee subsequently invited local side Rangdajied United FC to replace Hyderabad in Group F, which is being played in Shillong.
